They recorded their first and most acclaimed album "LA LEYLA" in barely a week in Conny Plank's studio. It measured up to the contemporary works of ELOY, JANE and NOVALIS among others. Apart from the title track and "Someone Like You", the album included the anti Vietnam war piece "War", which was deemed too controversial in the US and replaced with "Noise" there, using the same melody and arrangement.
In 1978 they followed with another fine album "Eternity Rise", which was also well received and promoted through touring, a highlight being the 11 minute title cut with martial drums. Then lead singer Herbert Natho quit for health reasons and the group undertook a lengthy search for a replacement. After a period of transition they settled on Matthew Moeller, who actually had a more mainstream voice as the group positioned itself more commercially for 1981's "Light Fantastic", recorded at ELOY's "Horus Sound" studio.
Like many 1970s prog bands, RAMSES was unable to maintain momentum into the 1980s, and have only released one album since 1981, that being "Control Me" in 2000, which has never been easy to find. According to their website, another studio recording is planned, but it is unclear for how long that has been the case.
This compilation is made up of the two original albums La Leyla (1976) and Eternity Rise (1978)
- Hans-Dieter Klinkhammer / bass
- Norbert Langhorst / acoustic & electric guitars
- Winfried Langhorst / keyboards, vocals
- Herbert Natho / lead vocals
- Reinhard Schröter / drums, percussion, backing vocals
+ Die Nurnberger Symphony Orchestra string section (album 2)
Great post, thanks!